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i (No Model.)

Jf P. MUIR. MAIL, PARCEL, 0R CASH CARRIER'. No. 373,997. Patented Nov.29, 1887.

N4 PETERS, Pholumugmphnr. washington l1 c.

, sents a side View, partly in section, and Fig.

, JOHN E. MUTE, 0E

PATENT OFFICE.

TOPEKA, KANSAS.

MAIL, PARCEL, OR CASH CARRIER.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,997, dated November29, 1887.

Application filed March 29, 1887.

To aZZ whom; it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. MUIR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail, Parcel, or CashCarriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for carryingy .boy in being required towalk from the street to the house, and in ruralv districts it willenable a mounted postman'to deliver mail without dismounting or someperson going from the house to receive mail, as is now the practice.

The invention is not, however, limited in its use to mail-service, butmay be applied to stores and other business-houses as a parcel, package,or cash carrier.

Ishallhereinafter describe my invention,and particularly point it out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specilication,Figure 1 repre- 2 a vertical transverse section.

Reference being had to the drawings and the letters marked thereon, A Brepresent posts,`between which are stretched wires d b, which support acarrier, C, which may be of any suitable form or construction. In'th'epresent instance I have shown eyebolts c c in the sides of the carrier,throu'gh which the wires ab pass and upon which the carrier slides fromone post to the other. The receiver may, however, be supported uponsuitable grooved wheels mounted upon axles secured to the carrier.

D represents a rod projecting inwardly from each post, and near theouter end thereof is a hook or projection, d, with which a rod or chain,e, engages. To the ends of the rod e are secured one end ofthe springsj' f, the opopposite end of the line or structure.

. latch z' returns to its normal position, it car- Serial No. 232.595.(No model.)

posite ends of which engage with eyes g g in the sides of the carrier G.

-Instead'of the two springs ff, one larger spring may be applied to theend of the carrier and the posts A and B. On the upper side of thecarrier are angular projections g'g, with which the notch h on the underside of the latch or trigger z' engages to draw the carrier toward theposts A. B, as will hereinafter more fully appear. On the upper side ofthe latch is formed a notch, k, which enables the latch to rise anddisengage from the angular projection g', and also limits the rearwardmotion of the latch.

E Ef represent cords, one end of each of which is secured to one of eachof the latches as shown at Z. The cord passes over a sheave, m, uponwhich the lower side of the latch rests, and forms a fulcrum to trip thelatch when it is drawn back from the opposite end ofthe structure. Y

The cords E E extend from one latch, i, to the opposite end of thestructure, and constitute suitablev means for drawing the carrier backtoward the posts. Upon the posts A B are secured signal-bells F G, whichare struck by a hammer, n, secured to a rod, o, which passes through aneye, o', on the latch t', and gives an alarm whenever the carrier Gisreleased at either end.

The several parts being constructed substanis pulled, which draws thecarrier C toward the post A or B, and puts the springsffunder tension,as shown in dotted lines at post A in Fig. 1. When the latch i reachesthe position shown in dotted lines, the sheave m acts as a fulcrum tothe latch and tilts its front end up, which disengages it from theprojection g', when the resiliency of the springs ff thrust or force thecarrier across .the wires a b to the As the ries the rod o forward, andthe hammer n strikes the signal-bell F or G, according to the end fromwhich the carrier is sent.

In the application of my invention to carry- IOO ing mail one end ofthewires may be secured to a post ofa portico, or to a post near the housefor the purpose, and the other end to a gate-post, when the wires may beconducted along the path or walk leading from the house to the street orsidewalk. The carrier will be kept normally at the house end of thelinc. Then a mail carrier .'or newsboy wishes to deliver inail orpapers, he pulls upon the cord E at the street end of the line, whichwill release the carrier, force it across the wires t b, and strikeanalarm, thus calling the attention of the inmates of the house to thefaetthatsome person wishes to use the carrier. Mail, ncwspapers, orothermatter having been placed in the carrier, the cord E at the house end ispulled, when the carrier will be forced toward the house.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim isl. A tracksupported at both ends by suitable posts, a carrier provided withsprings, and a rod connecting said springs, in combination with a barbelow the track secured to one of said posts and provided with aprojection, a latch above the track supported by the post, a projectionon the carrier, and a cord extending from the latch to the opposite endofthe structure,substantially as described.

2. In combination with a track, a carrier provided with a suitableprojection, a latch having shoulders on its upper and lower sides whichengage with the projection on the carrier and with the post,respectively, a cord attached to the latch, a sheave in the rear of thelatch, arranged in its path and adapted to trip the latch, and a springor springs, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a track, a carrier supported by the track. alatch engaging with the carrier, a signal-bell, a. hammer connected tothe latch, a cord, a sheave, and a spring or springs for propelling thecarrier and striking the bell, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. MUIR.

Vitnesses:

HARRY W. FROST, T. J. MATTHEWS.

